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Aaron Krickstein
Aaron Krickstein
Aaron Krickstein
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Aaron Krickstein (born August 2, 1967),[1] nicknamed "Marathon Man",[2] is an American former professional tennis player who competed on the ATP Tour from 1983 to 1996. He currently competes on the Outback Champions Series Over-30 tour.

Key Information

Krickstein reached his career high ATP ranking of World No. 6 on February 26, 1990.[3] He achieved this ranking on the back of wins in Sydney and Los Angeles, as well as his best ever results at Wimbledon and the US Open. He is perhaps best known for his five-set, marathon loss to Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open, which ESPN called "an instant classic".

Personal life

[edit]

Krickstein was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan,[4] the son of Evelyn, a housewife, and Herb Krickstein, a pathologist.[5] His sister, Kathy, won the Big Ten tennis championship in 1978.[3] He is the uncle of LPGA golfer Morgan Pressel, Kathy's daughter.[6]

Krickstein is Jewish and in the early 1990s was one of three highly ranked Jewish-American tennis players, along with Jay Berger and Brad Gilbert.[2][7][8][9][10][11] In 2025 Krickstein was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Krickstein has been the director of tennis at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, since 2002.[12][13][14]

Career

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Junior

[edit]

Krickstein started playing tennis when he was six.[15] He became an active competitor on the high school tennis scene during his teens, and still holds the Michigan record for most consecutive match wins at this level (56). He played for University Liggett School.[16]

Krickstein won the American National Under 16 championship in 1982. While still only 16, he was the US National Junior Tennis Association Champion, Clay Champion, and USTA National Champion in the 18s in 1983.[17] He won five consecutive junior championships.[15]

Professional

[edit]

Krickstein set an ATP record for being the youngest player to win a singles title on the ATP Tour (at age 16, 2 months after his 16th birthday), in Tel Aviv. Krickstein set a record for being the youngest player to ever break the top 10 (at age 17).[2][7] As of February 2026, both records still stand.

In 1984, he won the U.S. Pro Tennis Championship, becoming its youngest winner, and a clay court tournament in Boston.[8] In 1989 he won the Tokyo Indoor Tennis Tournament and a hard court tournament in Sydney, Australia.[8] In 1991, 1992, and 1993 he won the South African Open.[8]

Krickstein had an injury-plagued career, which included stress fractures in his feet, problems with his knees and wrists in 1985 and 1986, and injuries suffered when he was hurt in a car accident in 1987.[18]

His best finishes in a Grand Slam event were at the 1989 US Open, and at the 1995 Australian Open, where he reached the semi-finals.

Krickstein is perhaps best remembered for his famous five-set match against Jimmy Connors on Labor Day at the 1991 US Open. Krickstein had led the match 2–1 in sets and was ahead 5–2 in the fifth set, before losing the match in a tiebreaker. The match lasted four hours and 41 minutes.[19] According to ESPN, "The match was an instant classic." Before retractable roofs were constructed for use at the US Open, this match was the default television filler during tournament rain delays; because of this, it is probably the most viewed tennis match of all time.[20] For about 24 years after the match, Krickstein and Connors only spoke a few words to each other. But in 2014, Krickstein called Connors to invite him to play a "reunion match" for members at the Florida country club where Krickstein was (and still is) the tennis director. They played in February 2015 and Krickstein won a pro set 8–5.[21][22]

He had a record of 10 career wins from 0–2 set deficits. His nickname "Marathon Man" was a reference to his ability to make a comeback when behind in a match.[2][23][24] Krickstein won 28 of his 37 career matches that went into a fifth set.

Krickstein defeated a number of top players, including Ivan Lendl (world #1) in 1990, Michael Stich (world #2 and #4) in 1994 and 1991, Stefan Edberg (world #3) in 1988 at the US Open, Boris Becker (world #3) in 1992, Mats Wilander (world #4) in 1984, Jimmy Arias (world #5) in 1984, and Sergi Bruguera (world #5) in 1994. He won against Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

Davis Cup

[edit]

Krickstein was a member of the United States Davis Cup team from 1985 to 1987, and also was a member of the 1990 squad. He compiled a 6–4 record in singles play during Davis Cup ties.[25] The highlight of Krickstein's Davis Cup career came in 1990 when he scored two, hard-fought victories in a World Group Quarterfinal tie against Czechoslovakia, leading his team to a 4–1 win.

ATP career finals

[edit]

Singles: 19 (9 titles, 10 runner-ups)

[edit]
Legend
Grand Slam Tournaments (0–0)
ATP World Tour Finals (0–0)
ATP Masters 1000 Series (0–2)
ATP 500 Series (0–1)
ATP 250 Series (9–7)
Finals by surface
Hard (6–6)
Clay (2–3)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (1–1)
Finals by setting
Outdoors (8–9)
Indoors (1–1)
Result W–L Date Tournament Tier Surface Opponent Score
Win 1–0 Oct 1983 Tel Aviv, Israel Grand Prix Hard Germany Christoph Zipf 7–6, 6–3
Loss 1–1 May 1984 Rome, Italy Grand Prix Clay Ecuador Andrés Gómez 6–2, 1–6, 2–6, 2–6
Win 2–1 Jul 1984 Boston, United States Grand Prix Clay Argentina José Luis Clerc 7–6(7–2), 3–6, 6–4
Loss 2–2 Jul 1984 Washington, United States Grand Prix Clay Ecuador Andrés Gómez 2–6, 2–6
Win 3–2 Sep 1984 Tel Aviv (2), Israel Grand Prix Hard Israel Shahar Perkiss 6–4, 6–1
Win 4–2 Sep 1984 Geneva, Switzerland Grand Prix Clay Sweden Henrik Sundström 6–7, 6–1, 6–4
Loss 4–3 Nov 1985 Hong Kong, Hong Kong Grand Prix Hard Ecuador Andrés Gómez 3–6, 3–6, 6–3, 4–6
Loss 4–4 Oct 1986 Tel Aviv, Israel Grand Prix Hard United States Brad Gilbert 5–7, 2–6
Loss 4–5 Oct 1988 Tel Aviv, Israel Grand Prix Hard United States Brad Gilbert 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 2–6
Loss 4–6 Nov 1988 Detroit, United States Grand Prix Carpet United States John McEnroe 5–7, 2–6
Win 5–6 Jan 1989 Sydney, Australia Grand Prix Hard Soviet Union Andrei Cherkasov 6–4, 6–2
Win 6–6 Sep 1989 Los Angeles, United States Grand Prix Hard United States Michael Chang 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win 7–6 Oct 1989 Tokyo, Japan Grand Prix Carpet Germany Carl-Uwe Steeb 6–2, 6–2
Loss 7–7 Apr 1990 Tokyo, Japan Championship Series Hard Sweden Stefan Edberg 4–6, 5–7
Loss 7–8 Sep 1990 Brisbane, Australia World Series Hard United States Brad Gilbert 3–6, 1–6
Loss 7–9 Sep 1991 Brisbane, Australia World Series Hard Italy Gianluca Pozzi 3–6, 6–7(4–7)
Win 8–9 Mar 1992 Johannesburg, South Africa World Series Hard Russia Alexander Volkov 6–4, 6–4
Loss 8–10 Apr 1992 Monte Carlo, Monaco Masters Series Clay Austria Thomas Muster 3–6, 1–6, 3–6
Win 9–10 Mar 1993 Johannesburg (2), South Africa World Series Hard South Africa Grant Stafford 6–3, 7–6(9–7)

Performance timeline

[edit]
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

[edit]
Tournament 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A A NH A A 4R 4R 4R 4R A 3R SF 1R 0 / 7 19–7 73%
French Open A 2R 4R 2R 3R 1R 2R 3R 2R 3R 2R 4R 1R A 0 / 12 17–12 59%
Wimbledon A A 1R A A A 4R A 2R A 3R 3R 4R A 0 / 6 11–6 65%
US Open 4R 3R A 4R A QF SF QF 4R A 2R 1R 2R A 0 / 10 26–10 72%
Win–loss 3–1 3–2 3–2 4–2 2–1 4–2 12–4 9–3 8–4 5–2 4–3 7–4 9–4 0–1 0 / 35 73–35 68%
Year-end Championships
WCT Finals DNQ QF Did not qualify Not Held 0 / 1 1–1 50%
ATP Finals Did not qualify RR Did not qualify 0 / 1 1–2 33%
Grand Slam Cup Did not qualify QF 1R Did not qualify 1R DNQ 0 / 3 1–3 25%
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells A A A A 1R 2R 1R QF A 1R A SF 1R A 0 / 7 7–7 50%
Miami A A 3R 3R 3R QF QF 2R 2R 2R 2R 4R 3R 1R 0 / 12 18–12 60%
Monte Carlo A 1R SF 3R 3R 2R A 2R A F 2R A 1R A 0 / 9 12–9 57%
Hamburg A A A A A A 2R 3R 2R A A 1R A A 0 / 4 2–4 33%
Rome 1R F 1R 3R 3R 2R 2R 3R 2R 1R A 1R A A 0 / 11 14–11 56%
Canada A A A 2R A A A A A QF 3R 2R 2R A 0 / 5 7–5 58%
Cincinnati A 1R A A A SF 3R 3R 2R A 3R 2R 1R A 0 / 8 11–8 58%
Paris A A A A A QF SF 3R A A Q2 1R 1R A 0 / 5 6–5 55%
Win–loss 0–1 5–3 5–3 7–4 5–4 12–6 10–6 7–7 3–4 7–5 6–4 8–7 2–6 0–1 0 / 61 77–61 56%

Records

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  • These records were attained in the Open Era of tennis.
Championship Years Record accomplished Player tied
1983 Youngest player to end a year in the top 100 (16y 4 m; #94) Stands alone
Youngest player to win a singles title (16y 2 m) Stands alone

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Aaron Krickstein

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Aaron Krickstein (born August 2, 1967) is an American former professional tennis player who competed on the ATP Tour from 1983 to 1996, renowned for his baseline game and endurance that earned him the nickname "Marathon Man." Krickstein burst onto the professional scene as a teenager, becoming the youngest player to win an ATP singles title at age 16 years and 2 months when he captured the 1983 Tel Aviv Open, defeating Vitas Gerulaitis in the final. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he was a swimming champion at ages 5 and 6 before focusing on tennis, training under coach Nick Bollettieri and winning U.S. National 18s titles in indoor, clay, and hard court categories at age 16. That same year, he made history as the youngest male to reach the round of 16 at the US Open, and Tennis Magazine named him Rookie of the Year. Over his 14-year career, Krickstein compiled a 395–256 win-loss record in singles and secured nine ATP titles, including victories in (1984), (1989), (1989), and Indoor (1989), where he defeated in the final. He reached a career-high of world No. 6 on February 26, 1990, after strong performances that included beating top players like and . In Grand Slam events, his best results were semifinals at the 1989 US Open (lost to ) and the 1995 (retired injured against ), along with a quarterfinal appearance at the US Open in 1988, and round of 16 in 1990. Krickstein also represented the in ties starting in 1985 and was known for epic five-set battles, such as his 4-hour, 41-minute round of 16 loss to at the 1991 US Open when Connors was 39. Injuries, including tibia surgery in 1987 that sidelined him for over seven months, impacted his career, but he earned over $3.7 million in and remained a consistent top-20 contender into the early . After retiring in 1996, Krickstein ventured into business, founding a custom aquarium company, and later served as Director of at in ; he also competes on the and is the uncle of golfer . In 2025, he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Background and Family

Aaron Krickstein was born on August 2, 1967, in , to parents Evelyn Krickstein and Dr. Herb Krickstein, a pathologist. The family later relocated to , where Krickstein spent much of his early childhood in a supportive environment that emphasized and athletics. Krickstein hails from a Jewish family with deep in religious traditions, including a lineage of spanning three generations; his grandfather was Krickstein. The Krickstein family had a notable athletic legacy in , with three older sisters—Kathy, , and Renee—all nationally ranked as juniors in their respective age groups. Krickstein is also the of LPGA golfer , the daughter of his late sister Kathy, continuing the family's tradition of excellence in racket sports. Prior to focusing on , Krickstein demonstrated early athletic prowess as the Michigan state champion in freestyle and swimming at ages 5 and 6. His father introduced him to at age 6, sparking a lifelong passion for the sport.

Post-Retirement Activities

Krickstein retired from professional in 1996 at the age of 29, primarily due to chronic injuries that included back issues, wrist problems, and stress fractures sustained over his career. Following his , Krickstein launched a specializing in custom-made saltwater aquariums, reflecting his personal interest in and aquatics. In 2002, he transitioned into a tennis-related role as Director of Tennis at St. Andrews Country Club in , where he oversees the club's extensive racquet sports facilities, including 14 clay courts, and coaches members of all skill levels. To maintain his competitive edge in a less demanding format, Krickstein joined the Outback Champions Series (later rebranded as the PowerShares Series and now the Champions Tour) for players over 30, competing in exhibition events against fellow retired pros and achieving notable wins, such as defeating in the 2011 Delray Beach final. In recognition of his contributions to and Jewish sports heritage, Krickstein was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2025, alongside figures like broadcaster and the late basketball player Al Sloman, during a at the Suffolk Y JCC in . Krickstein resides in , with his wife, Bianca, and their children, enjoying a family-oriented life that balances his professional commitments with community involvement in the .

Tennis Career

Junior Achievements

Aaron Krickstein began playing tennis at the age of six, benefiting from dedicated family support that fueled his early development in the sport. His prodigious talent quickly emerged, as he never lost to a younger player throughout his junior career. Krickstein dominated U.S. junior tennis, securing five consecutive national titles from 1981 to 1983 by winning the USTA Boys' 14s championship in 1981, the 16s in 1982, and the 18s on hard court in 1983, along with indoor and clay court versions of the 18s title that same year. He also claimed the U.S. National Junior Indoor and Clay Court titles in both 1982 (16s division) and 1983 (18s division). By age 16, these victories elevated him to the No. 1 junior ranking in the United States. At Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett High School, Krickstein compiled a remarkable high school record, including 56 consecutive match wins that set a Michigan state record. His junior success culminated in 1983 when Tennis Magazine named him Rookie of the Year, honoring his standout amateur performances prior to turning professional.

Professional Breakthrough

Aaron Krickstein transitioned to professional tennis in 1983, following a dominant junior career that included multiple national titles. He made his Grand Slam debut as an amateur at the 1983 US Open, where he advanced to the fourth round after defeating higher-seeded players, including a comeback victory over No. 15 Vitas Gerulaitis in five sets, becoming the youngest male player to reach that stage at 16 years and one month old. Shortly after, Krickstein won his first title at the 1983 , defeating Christoph Zipf 7–6, 6–3 in the final at the age of 16 years, 2 months, and 13 days, establishing a record as the youngest ATP singles champion in history that stood for decades. This victory propelled him into the year-end top 100 at No. 97, another milestone as the youngest player to achieve that ranking at 16 years and four months. In 1984, Krickstein solidified his presence on the by capturing three titles: the U.S. Pro Tennis Championships in , where he overcame defending champion 7–6, 3–6, 6–4 in the final; a successful defense of the ; and the , defeating Henrik Sundström 6–7, 6–1, 6–4. On August 13, 1984, he entered the top 10 rankings at No. 9, setting yet another record as the youngest player to reach that level. His early Grand Slam performances included fourth-round appearances at both Wimbledon, where he fell to , and the US Open that year. These breakthrough achievements highlighted Krickstein's rapid ascent, with his earnings reflecting his growing impact; he surpassed $1 million in career prize money during 1989, underscoring his early financial success on the tour relative to his age and experience.

Peak Years

Aaron Krickstein's peak years on the ATP Tour spanned from 1986 to 1990, during which he established himself as a consistent top-10 contender with a powerful baseline game suited to fast surfaces. He achieved his career-high singles ranking of world No. 6 on February 26, 1990, following strong performances in Sydney and Los Angeles, as well as deep runs at Wimbledon and the US Open that year. Over his entire career, Krickstein compiled a 395–256 singles win-loss record, with particularly strong results on hard courts where he won 213 of 326 matches for a .653 winning percentage. In 1989, Krickstein enjoyed his most successful season, capturing three ATP titles and reaching the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time. He won the Sydney International on hard courts in January, defeating 6–4, 6–2 in the final; the on hard courts in September, where he overcame 2–6, 6–2, 6–3 after saving seven match points in the semifinals against ; and the Tokyo Indoor on in October, beating top seed 2–6, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–3) in the semifinals before defeating Carl-Uwe Steeb 7–6(7–5), 6–4 in the final for a $100,000 prize. These victories highlighted his resilience in tiebreakers and comebacks, earning him a career-high $582,651 in prize money that year and a year-end ranking of No. 8. Krickstein's Grand Slam performances during this era peaked at the 1989 US Open, where he advanced to the semifinals by defeating Alexander Volkov, Paul Haarhuis, and Jay Berger before falling to 6–4, 6–3, 6–4. He also reached the quarterfinals at the , upsetting higher seeds en route to a loss against 6–4, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, and made the fourth round at the 1989 , exiting to Carl-Uwe Steeb 3–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4. In 1990, he secured a notable upset victory over world No. 1 6–1, 4–6, 6–1 in the semifinals of the Japan Open ( outdoor) on hard courts, though he fell to Edberg 6–4, 7–5 in the final. Throughout the period, Krickstein developed intense rivalries with leading players, facing 11 times with a 4–7 record and 8 times with a 1–7 mark during his career, including key losses like the 1989 US Open semifinal. These matchups against the era's top talents, including multiple encounters with Lendl (1–7 overall), underscored his competitiveness on hard courts and indoors despite occasional struggles against serve-and-volley specialists.

Later Career and Retirement

In the early 1990s, Krickstein's career was increasingly hampered by persistent injuries, including chronic issues with his back, wrist, and shoulder, which limited his training and after his peak in 1990. These ailments contributed to his exit from the ATP top 10 following the 1990 season, when he ended the year ranked No. 20 after reaching a career-high of No. 6 earlier that February. Despite the setbacks, he secured his final two ATP singles titles during this period: the tournament (South African Open) in 1992 and the Santiago event in 1993, both on outdoor hard courts. A highlight amid the decline came at the 1991 US Open, where Krickstein faced in the fourth round on , September 2—a match delayed by rain and moved to a prime-time night session that drew record viewership of over 28 million. The five-set epic lasted 4 hours and 41 minutes, with Connors, aged 39 and celebrating his birthday, rallying from two sets to one down to win 3-6, 7-6(10-8), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Krickstein's performance showcased his resilience, but the loss underscored the physical demands exacerbating his ongoing injury struggles. Krickstein experienced a brief resurgence in 1995, reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open—his second-best Grand Slam result after the 1989 US Open—by defeating higher-ranked players like in a five-set comeback. However, in the semifinal against , he retired injured with a groin strain after Agassi took the first two sets 6-4, 6-4 and led 3-0 in the third, further highlighting the toll of his physical condition. By 1996, injuries had severely curtailed Krickstein's schedule, resulting in no titles and an 0-4 win-loss record across limited appearances, including early-round exits at the and Miami Masters. His final professional match occurred in March at the Miami Masters, a straight-sets loss to Wojtek , capping a streak of 12 consecutive defeats. Krickstein effectively retired later that year at age 29, citing the cumulative physical toll of his injury history as the primary reason, though he never issued a formal announcement.

Davis Cup Participation

Aaron Krickstein represented the in the from 1985 to 1987 and in 1990, accumulating a 6–4 record in singles across 10 matches. All of his appearances were in singles, contributing to teams during a dominant era for American tennis that featured stars like and in the mid-1980s, and later . Krickstein made his Davis Cup debut at age 17 in the 1985 World Group first round against in , securing victories over Shozo Shiraishi (6–4, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4) and Maruyama (6–1, 6–1) to help the U.S. sweep the tie 5–0. In the quarterfinals against in , however, he suffered a five-set loss to Hans-Jörg Schwaier (2–6, 6–1, 2–6, 6–1, 8–6) and a straight-sets loss to (6–2, 6–2, 6–1), as the U.S. fell 2–3 despite a doubles win. In 1986, Krickstein played both singles in the first-round tie against in , defeating Raúl Viver (8–6, 6–1, 6–3) before losing a four-setter to Andrés Gómez (3–6, 7–5, 6–1, 6–4); the U.S. advanced 3–2 on Jimmy Arias's decisive win and reached the final, where they finished as runners-up to . He was part of the quarterfinal roster against but did not compete in singles as the U.S. won 4–1, nor in later rounds. The 1987 first-round tie against in proved challenging, with Krickstein earning a five-set win over Hugo Chapacú (5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 4–6, 6–4) but falling in a late-night decider to Víctor Pecci (6–2, 8–6, 9–7) that ended around 2:35 a.m. local time, resulting in a 2–3 upset loss for the U.S. and early elimination. Krickstein's most impactful performance came in the 1990 World Group quarterfinals against in , where he delivered two victories: a grueling five-setter over Milan Šrejber (4–6, 7–6(5), 7–6(5), 6–7(4), 6–3) on day one and a four-set clincher against (6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3) on day three, securing a 3–2 win that propelled the U.S. to the semifinals against .

Career Achievements

Titles and Finals

Aaron Krickstein competed in 19 singles finals over his professional career, achieving a 9–10 record. His titles were concentrated in the early to mid-1980s and late 1980s, reflecting his breakthrough as a teenager and subsequent resurgence after injury setbacks, with a clear preference for hard courts where he secured the majority of his victories. Krickstein won his first title in 1983 at the , defeating Christoph Zipf 7–6, 6–3, and became the youngest ATP singles champion in history at age 16 years and two months. He claimed three titles in 1984: the (defeating 7–6, 3–6, 6–4), the (defeating Shahar Perkiss 6–4, 6–1), and the (defeating Henrik Sundström 6–7, 6–1, 6–4). After a period hampered by injuries, he added three more in 1989: the Sydney International (defeating Andrei Cherkasov 6–4, 6–2), the (defeating 2–6, 6–4, 6–2), and the Tokyo Indoor (defeating Carl-Uwe Steeb 6–2, 6–2). His final titles came in 1992 at the South African Open (defeating Alexander Volkov 6–4, 6–4) and in 1993, defending the South African Open title against Grant Stafford 6–3, 7–6. No titles were won in 1986, 1991, or other years despite reaching finals. In terms of surface preferences, Krickstein's 9 titles broke down to 7 on hard courts, 1 on clay (), and 1 on indoor carpet (), underscoring his adaptability but dominance on faster surfaces that suited his baseline game and return-oriented style. His finals losses highlighted competitive battles against top players, including notable defeats to in the 1988 final (7–5, 6–2), in the 1990 Japan Open (6–4, 7–5), and Thomas Muster in the 1992 (6–3, 6–1, 6–3). The following table summarizes all of Krickstein's ATP singles finals:
YearTournamentSurfaceOpponentResult
1983HardChristoph ZipfWin (7–6, 6–3)
1984Italian OpenClayAndrés GómezLoss (2–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–2)
1984HardWin (7–6, 3–6, 6–4)
1984Washington OpenHardAndrés GómezLoss (6–2, 6–2)
1984HardShahar PerkissWin (6–4, 6–1)
1984ClayHenrik SundströmWin (6–7, 6–1, 6–4)
1985Hong Kong OpenHardAndrés GómezLoss (6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4)
1986HardLoss (7–5, 6–2)
1988HardLoss (4–6, 7–6, 6–2)
1988CarpetLoss (7–5, 6–2)
1989Sydney InternationalHardAndrei CherkasovWin (6–4, 6–2)
1989HardWin (2–6, 6–4, 6–2)
1989Tokyo IndoorCarpetCarl-Uwe SteebWin (6–2, 6–2)
1990Japan OpenHardLoss (6–4, 7–5)
1990Brisbane InternationalHardLoss (6–3, 6–1)
1991Brisbane InternationalHardGianluca PozziLoss (6–3, 7–6)
1992South African OpenHardAlexander VolkovWin (6–4, 6–4)
1992ClayLoss (6–3, 6–1, 6–3)
1993South African OpenHardGrant StaffordWin (6–3, 7–6)
Krickstein's career singles win-loss record stood at 395–256, yielding a 60.7% .

Performance Timeline

Krickstein amassed a 73–35 win-loss record in Grand Slam singles tournaments over his career, with his career-best results being semifinal appearances at the 1989 US Open and the 1995 . His deepest advancement in the ATP Masters Series came at the 1994 Indian Wells Masters, where he reached the semifinals after upsets including a three-set victory over fourth seed in the quarterfinals. Krickstein also progressed to the quarterfinals in several Masters events, notably the 1989 Miami Open, where he defeated in the round of 16 before falling to . Krickstein reached the ATP top 10 during , 1985, 1989, 1990, and 1991, reflecting his consistent performance in major tournaments during those periods. He was particularly effective on hard courts, compiling a career win rate of approximately 66% across surfaces, with the majority of his successes on that surface. The following table summarizes Krickstein's year-by-year results in Grand Slam singles tournaments:
YearWimbledonUS Open
1983AAA4R
A2RA3R
1985A4R1RA
1986A2RA4R
1987A3RAA
1988A1RAQF
19894R2R4RSF
19904R3RAQF
19914R2R2R4R
19924R3RAA
1993A2R3R2R
19943R4R3R1R
1995SF1R4R2R
19961RAAA
(A = did not play; 1R = first round; 2R = second round; 3R = third round; 4R = fourth round; QF = quarterfinals; SF = semifinals)

Records and Milestones

Aaron Krickstein holds the record as the youngest player to win an singles title, achieving this feat at 16 years, 2 months, and 13 days old when he captured the 1983 by defeating Christoph Zipf in the final. This milestone, set on October 15, 1983, remains unbroken as of 2025, underscoring Krickstein's prodigious talent early in his professional career. Additionally, he became the youngest player to conclude a year ranked in the ATP top 100, finishing 1983 at No. 97 at the age of 16 years and 4 months. Krickstein reached his career-high singles ranking of world on February 26, 1990, a position earned through consistent performances including titles in and the previous year. His endurance in prolonged matches earned him the nickname "Marathon Man," reflecting his remarkable ability to rally from deficits in grueling encounters, such as four-hour-plus battles that highlighted his mental and physical resilience. A prime example was his 1991 US Open fourth-round clash with , a five-set epic lasting nearly five hours that exemplified his tenacity, though he ultimately fell 3-6, 7-6(8), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Throughout his career, Krickstein amassed over $3.7 million in , with a landmark achievement in May 1989 when he became the 24th player to surpass $1 million in career earnings. These financial milestones, alongside his statistical records, cemented his legacy as a durable competitor who influenced the professional tour during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

References

  1. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/aaron-krickstein/k023/overview
  2. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/aaron-krickstein/k023/bio
  3. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/aaron-krickstein/k023/rankings-history
  4. https://www.tennis-x.com/results/us-open/aaron-krickstein.php
  5. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-27-sp-24967-story.html
  6. https://www.espn.com/classic/s/add_Connors_Jimmy.html
  7. https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=3290927
  8. https://www.facebook.com/FollowTeamIsrael/posts/as-the-international-jewish-sports-hall-of-fame-prepares-to-induct-a-new-class-w/1197777501936346/
  9. https://www.grossepointenews.com/articles/dr-herbert-krickstein/
  10. https://www.hometownlife.com/story/sports/2015/07/24/kricksteins-tennis-message-enjoy-sport/30628941/
  11. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-717699
  12. https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/aiming-to-make-history-on-the-greens/article_cdde29e8-12ab-5dbd-b1a2-38728d92c972.html
  13. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sunsentinel/name/kathryn-pressel-obituary?id=27653578
  14. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2005/09/07/2005-morgan-pressel-dont-forget-me/
  15. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-19-sp-150-story.html
  16. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/sports/golf/06golf.html
  17. https://bolavip.com/en/tennis/he-was-worlds-no-6-defeated-edberg-and-becker-earned-the-nickname-marathon-man-and-retired-at-29
  18. https://standrewscc.com/Default.aspx?p=dynamicmodule&pageid=155&ssid=100200&vnf=1
  19. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/2011/02/20/aaron-krickstein-now-young-43/7272954007/
  20. https://jewishjournal.org/2025/08/20/sharon-native-named-national-jewish-sports-hall-of-fame-athlete-of-the-year/
  21. https://www.facebook.com/events/74-hauppauge-rd-commack-ny-11725-4443-united-states/national-jewish-sports-hall-of-fame-2025-induction/1712358996323853/
  22. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2013/08/12/aspiring-firefighter-saves-choking-child/
  23. https://www.floridaresidentsdirectory.com/person/112412862/krickstein-aaron?amp
  24. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6581753/2025/08/31/us-open-jimmy-connors-aaron-krickstein-match/
  25. https://tenniskalamazoo.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-look-back-at-1983-kalamazoo-nationals.html
  26. https://www.tennismajors.com/atp/october-15-1983-the-day-16-year-old-aaron-krickstein-became-youngest-ever-winner-505423.html
  27. https://www.mhsaa.com/sports/boys-tennis/records
  28. https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2017-06-08/us_open_moments_sept_4_1983.html
  29. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/aaron-krickstein/k023/titles-and-finals
  30. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/aaron-krickstein/k023/player-activity
  31. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/-/k023/atp-win-loss
  32. https://www.landoftennis.com/titles_men/full_list/aaron_krickstein.htm
  33. https://www.tennismajors.com/atp/september-23-1989-the-day-aaron-krickstein-produced-an-amazing-comeback-291852.html
  34. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/10/21/Krickstein-beats-Edberg-in-semifinals/2845624945600/
  35. https://www.tennis-x.com/results/french-open/aaron-krickstein.php
  36. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/04/14/Krickstein-upsets-Lendl-faces-Edberg-in-final/1542640065600/
  37. https://www.stevegtennis.com/head-to-head/men/Stefan_Edberg/Aaron_Krickstein/
  38. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/boris-becker-vs-aaron-krickstein/b028/k023
  39. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-30-sp-35-story.html
  40. https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2018-09-02/this_day_in_us_open_history_sept_2_1991.html
  41. https://www.tennisabstract.com/cgi-bin/tourney.cgi?t=1991-560/US-Open
  42. https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/top-10-us-open-matches-no-1-connors-d-krickstein-91-fourth-round
  43. https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/28/sports/tennis-a-flood-here-an-agassi-blitz-there.html
  44. https://www.tennisabstract.com/cgi-bin/player-classic.cgi?p=AaronKrickstein
  45. https://voodemar.com/aaron-krickstein/
  46. https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/pdfs/Davis_Cup_Record_Book_2019_Finals.pdf
  47. https://www.daviscup.com/en/players/player.aspx?id=800178186
  48. https://www.daviscup.com/en/match/6fdef2b3-bf75-46dc-9f4c-0c035bc4c85c
  49. https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/05/sports/becker-ends-us-bid-for-davis-cup.html
  50. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1985/08/03/west-germany-takes-2-from-us-in-davis-cup/7a045e57-4cd3-4a4b-8ae8-d6c800be39ac/
  51. https://www.daviscup.com/en/match/b577dd4b-c255-4982-bb09-83ce9859094d
  52. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/10/sports/us-tops-ecuador-in-davis-cup-play.html
  53. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-21-sp-26497-story.html
  54. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-16-sp-6222-story.html
  55. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/03/16/paraguay-defeats-us-in-davis-cup/4d0a0785-10e7-411b-a161-ccfd29f884ce/
  56. https://www.daviscup.com/en/tie/4d0cb112-1b9f-4915-8257-28e4092620b0
  57. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-31-sp-257-story.html
  58. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/04/02/krickstein-shows-he-belongs-sends-us-to-austria-for-davis-cup-semifinals/f1fa16d0-5c4b-4500-9b07-40f8c4de0fbf/
  59. https://www.landoftennis.com/finals_men/full_list/aaron_krickstein.htm
  60. https://www.tennis-x.com/grand-slam-record/aaron-krickstein.php
  61. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/03/sports/results-plus-351946.html
  62. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1989/03/25/krickstein-yzaga-provide-outside-treat/
  63. https://matchstat.com/tennis/player/Aaron%20Krickstein/
  64. https://ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=YoungestATP250Champion
  65. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/931886-mens-tennis-rankings-11-records-that-few-people-know-held-by-american-players
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